# Scott Sorensen

Scott Sorensen (born 16 March 1993) is a New Zealand international rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward and lock for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL.
He won the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 NRL Grand Finals with the Penrith Panthers. He previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in two separate spells as well as the Canberra Raiders in the National Rugby League.

## Background

Sorensen was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia of New Zealand, Tongan and Danish descent. His grandfather is New Zealand international Bill Sorensen. New Zealand internationals and Cronulla players Kurt Sorensen and Dane Sorensen are said to be Sorensen's uncles. Kurt and Dane have also been described as his first cousins, once removed.
Sorensen played his junior rugby league for the Cronulla-Caringbah Junior Rugby League Football Club, before being signed by the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

## Playing career
### 2013

In 2013, Sorensen played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks' NYC team.

### 2014

In 2014, Sorensen graduated to Cronulla-Sutherland's New South Wales Cup team. In round 24 of the 2014 NRL season, he made his NRL debut for the Cronulla club against the Canberra Raiders.

### 2015

In 2015, Sorensen joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

### 2016

After failing to make a first-grade appearance for South Sydney, Sorensen joined Intrust Super Premiership NSW side Mount Pritchard Mounties in 2016.
His form throughout the year secured him a contract with the Canberra Raiders starting in 2017.

### 2017

On 28 August, Sorensen was named on the interchange bench in the 2017 Intrust Super Premiership NSW Team of the Year. In October, he signed a 2-year contract to return to Cronulla in 2018.

### 2018

Sorensen played 15 games for Cronulla-Sutherland in the 2018 NRL season as the club finishing in the top four at seasons end. Sorensen played in all three of the club's finals matches including the 22-6 preliminary final loss against Melbourne at AAMI Park.

### 2019

Sorensen made a total of five appearances for Cronulla in the 2019 NRL season. Sorensen played for Cronulla's feeder side Newtown in their Canterbury Cup NSW grand final victory over the Wentworthville Magpies at Bankwest Stadium.
On 29 September 2019, Sorensen was named in the 2019 Canterbury Cup NSW team of the season.
The following week, Sorensen played for Newtown in the NRL State Championship victory over the Burleigh Bears at ANZ Stadium.

### 2020

He played 14 games for Cronulla in the 2020 NRL season as the club finished 8th and qualified for the finals. He played in Cronulla's elimination final loss against Canberra.

### 2021

On 11 January, he signed a one-year deal with Penrith. He made his first appearance for the club in a round 9 match against his former team Cronulla-Sutherland off the interchange bench.
On July 28, Sorensen agreed to a two-year extension with Penrith, keeping him at the club until the end of 2023.
Sorensen played a total of 19 games for Penrith in the 2021 NRL season including the club's 2021 NRL Grand Final victory over South Sydney.

### 2022

Sorensen played 24 games for Penrith in the 2022 NRL season including the clubs 2022 NRL Grand Final victory over Paramatta where Sorensen scored a try. As a result of Sorensen's good performances he was rewarded with the selection in the New Zealand 2021 Rugby League World Cup squad.

### 2023

In round 9, Sorensen played his 50th NRL game for the Penrith Panthers in a 12-8 shock loss to the Wests Tigers. In round 11 of the 2023 NRL season, Sorensen scored two tries for Penrith during their 48-4 victory over the Sydney Roosters. Sorensen played 23 games for Penrith in the 2023 NRL season including the club's 26-24 victory over Brisbane in the 2023 NRL Grand Final as Penrith won their third straight premiership. In the final minute of the match, Sorensen sealed the result by retrieving an offload by Broncos fullback Reece Walsh after a threatening run.

### 2024

Sorensen played 16 matches for Penrith in the 2024 NRL season. On 6 October, he won the 2024 NRL Grand Final with the Penrith outfit, the fourth consecutive premiership victory for the side.

## Statistics

| Year | Team | Games | Tries | Pts |
| 2014 | Cronulla-Sutherland | 3 | | |
| 2017 | Canberra Raiders | 2 | | |
| 2018 | Cronulla-Sutherland | 15 | 1 | 4 |
| 2019 | Cronulla-Sutherland | 5 | | |
| 2020 | Cronulla-Sutherland | 14 | | |
| 2021 | Penrith | 19 | 1 | 4 |
| 2022 | Penrith | 24 | 2 | 8 |
| 2023 | Penrith | 23 | 4 | 16 |
| 2024 | Penrith | 16 | 3 | 12 |
| | Totals | 120 | 11 | 44 |

## Personal life

Sorensen's sister Marissa is married to his former Cronulla teammate Chad Townsend.